napalm

¹na·palm

noun \ˈnā-ˌpäm, -ˌpälm also ˈna- also nə-ˈpä(l)m\

Definition of NAPALM

1

: a thickener consisting of a mixture of aluminum soaps used in jelling gasoline (as for incendiary bombs)

2

: fuel jelled with napalm

Origin of NAPALM

naphthene + palmitate

First Known Use: 1942

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with NAPALM

A-bomb, aplomb, ashram, bee balm, buzz bomb, car bomb, Ceram, cheongsam, coulomb, Coulomb, dive-bomb, dot-com, EPROM, firebomb, grande dame, H-bomb, imam, Islam, Long Tom, nizam, noncom, oil palm, phenom, pogrom, pom-pom, réclame, rhabdom, salaam, sitcom, skip bomb, Songnam, stink bomb, tam-tam, therefrom, time bomb, tom-tom, wax palm, wherefrom, wigwam

²napalm

transitive verb

Definition of NAPALM

: to assault with napalm

First Known Use of NAPALM

1950

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

napalm

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Organic compound, the aluminum soap or salt of a mixture of fatty acids, used to thicken gasoline for use as an incendiary in flamethrowers and firebombs. The thickened mixture, itself also called napalm, burns more slowly and can be propelled more accurately and over greater distances than gasoline. When it comes in contact with surfaces, including the human body, it sticks tenaciously and continues to burn. It was developed and first used by the U.S. in World War II. Its use in the Vietnam War became highly controversial.